I bought this on release day (8GB/128GB SSD), and have been using it regularly since. I also have a Lenovo Miix 320 (4GB/64GB eMMC), and an iPad Air 2, so I can make some comparisons. The Go is a well made, high quality device. The kickstand is perfect. The bezels that reviewers complain about are fine and probably necessary for a number of technical reasons. Hello works great. The computer functions smoothly on all tasks I have set it to so far. The keyboard is the best compact keyboard I have every used, and I have old netbooks from Asus and HP, plus a half dozen bluetooth keyboards for iPad, plus the Lenovo 320 keyboard. The Microsoft beats them all. About charging: I tried an iPad charger, and a 5V 20 watt aftermarket charger I got for the Lenovo. I used a high quality Anker USB A to C cable. The Go would not recognize either charger. However, it does recognize 4 different Anker wall chargers I tried, all through their "IQ" ports, which are 5V 12 watt ports. In sleep mode, it will take 6-8 hours to charge. (A couple of times, when I shut down the Go completely to let it charge, it seemed to disconnect itself from the 12 watt charger, but in sleep mode it seemed to keep the connection.) If you are using the computer, expect to see the battery lose charge slowly when connected to only 12 watts. I tried a Qualcomm 3.0 fast charge port, but that didn't work. An Aukey USB C charger that can deliver 46 watts charged the device about the same as the supplied charger, using an Anker 6 foot USB C to C cable. The Aukey also has a USB A port for charging an iPhone or other device, so I would take that one with me when travelling and leave the Surface charger at home. (I also tried a cheap 5000 mAh portable battery on the 5V/2.0A output, and the Go failed to recognize it.) Battery life: I set up the Lenovo, the Go, and the iPad side by side and connected to my work software through Citrix Receiver and alternated between the three all day. The iPad had a bluetooth keyboard connected, plus the Citrix X1 mouse. The Lenovo and Go were used with their physically connected keyboards and trackpads. Brightness was set at a comfortable level on all three, about 60-70%, and the screens were not allowed to dim or turn off on all three. (The work software is information dense and hard on the eyes if the screen is any dimmer.) The Go reached 20% charge in 5 hours, followed by the iPad at 6.5 hours, and the Lenovo at about 7 hours. The Lenovo has an Atom x5 and exhibits a lot of lagginess and hitches even when working through Citrix Receiver. The keyboard experience is the best on the Go (I was using the Microsoft folding keyboard on the iPad, which is a very good keyboard). The Go is thinner and lighter than the Lenovo, but the Lenovo is 1920 X 1200 screen resolution to the Go's 1800 X 1200. Still, the difference did not really affect anything significantly. I like something compact and light, with small power bricks and cables for travelling (I go carry-on luggage only even for long trips, no checked luggage). The Surface Go is perfect for that scenario, and it doesn't have any annoying glitches or omissions or ergonomic mis-steps at all. I have never been able to say that about a 10 inch form factor Windows device before. By now, everybody knows that iOS and Windows 10 are so different that comparisons are close to futile. Using Microsoft Excel on an iPad is a cute trick that might be tolerable for brief stretches of time, but will be comfortable, ergonomic, and productive on the Go. Meanwhile, the tablet experience without keyboard while loafing on the couch or in bed is probably best left to the iPad, as it's ergonomics are optimized for that usage.

I've been eyeing the Surface Line of Laptops hybrids for some time now but could never justify the price. I might as well purchase a 2-in-1 laptop with more speed and Hard Drive size. I already own the new iPad with iPencil for half the price of a laptop, but I wanted something mobile and with full Windows. In comes the Surface Go and I wanted to see if this is what I was looking for...and YES IT DOES. I did a lot of research on the Surface Go to find out about the specs and to see if it really meets my needs. The Surface Go is exactly what I want and need...but with a few things I don't like. I initially bought the lower end model of 64GB and 4GB memory for $399, not to mention having to purchase the detachable keyboard for $99 (I didn't want to spend the extra $30 for the Signature cover) since I was getting the Arc Mouse also (another $70). I already owned the Bamboo Ink and decided not to purchase the Surface Pen. Although performance for the lower end model was great, I realized that I did need more space on it and ended up returning it and opting for the 8GB memory and 128 GB HD. There was a noticeable difference in performance to justify the extra $150. After playing around with the Go for the past 3 weeks, here are my thoughts: Pros: -You run FULL WINDOWS. I get Full access to my Microsoft Office which was the deal breaker. The iPad/Android versions are great, but limiting. With the Surface Go, everything I see on my laptop transfers onto my Go which is pretty neat. I can go to Starbucks and continue working where I left off, just a smaller screen. -Performance. You are running Windows S mode and can set up to run regular Windows if you wanted to download 3rd party apps. I actually like S mode as you save on your battery life and it feels good having that kind of protection. The 8GB memory is very noticeable compared to the 4GB version, especially if you multi task or using Adobe photoshop. -Screen: Some reviewers are not to happy with the 1800-1200 resolution, but I feel it looks great. -Battery: Running S-mode, I've clocked close to 8 hours. You cut that in half when you turn off S-mode. Just something to think about. -Expandable HD: MicroSd slot is found under the hinge. Tucked away and out of site. -Speakers: two front facing speakers are found on each side of the front screen. Good sound quality. -XBox One support: I have not done so yet, but it seems like you can play your XBox One games on the Surface Go and can connect your XBO controller as well. Cons: -Cost. At the end of the day I spend over $700 for the entire Surface Go experience. It can be argued that I could've bought an iPad Pro with that amount, but having full Windows was the deal breaker for me. It is costly, especially if this is supposed to be the Surface-on-a-budget line. -Accessories: It's only been out for a month and accessories are slowly trickling in. I bought an Urban Armor Gear metropolis case and it is perfect with the Go, along with a Tempered Glass screen protector. I know more are on the way, but it is taking long. Apple seems to have all of the accessories available at day of launch. -Apps: this is more Microsoft's fault than the Go, but the Microsoft App store is abysmal. Earlier this year they stopped supporting the Kindle App for new downloads. I'm able to use Kindle on my laptop but not the Surface Go. Also, there isn't a Google Play app for you as well. Overall I am really happy with the Surface Go. I am using iTunes on it and full Microsoft Office. I like the mobility that it provides me and can use it either as a tablet or computer. Just a few things I wished they were able to do, which is why I did not give it the full 5 stars. It is indeed the almost perfect 2-in-1 in my opinion.

2017 Surface Pro Owner Buys Surface Go As Companion Travel Device I have been using my Core M3, 4GB RAM, 128 GB storage Surface Pro for almost a year and NEVER feel wanting for more resources. With the Surface Dock I connect to all my peripherals ( 2 34" 4K monitors, laserjet printer, and high speed network connection with only the power connector. Windows 10 has been very stable and reliable and convinced me to evolve from a Apple-centric household to primarily Microsoft. The Surface devices are simply the right product (if premium hardware and pen-centric applications are important for your work / personal needs). The Surface Pen works really well for note-taking and journaling. The Apple pencil is too big and drew unwanted attention in professional group meetings. On week long trips, I travel with the Surface Pro and take the Surface Go as a companion device for use in coffee shops, and journaling in front of the TV. One Note and the Surface Pen have made transitioning to an all-digital content solution easy. I wanted an Every Day Carry (EDC) device that integrated seamlessly with my current investment in Surface products and peripherals. The 4GB Surface Go is the perfect device to carry in a small backpack and excels at being the perfect size for taking meeting notes and journaling throughout the day. It also works well as a media consumption device (use mobile phone as 4G hotspot) or store content on multiple Micro SD cards.. One Note's ability to sync content across multiple platforms allows one to work with the Microsoft Office suite across Mac and Windows devices fluidly. Using a nice sized Micros SD card to store all created content ensures there is plenty of space on the native device storage for applications and the Windows O/S. When you first get the unit, perform all the updates to the O/S BEFORE you start evaluating performance and general operations. Otherwise you may incorrectly believe the device is slower than it actually is. When traveling cross country or internationally, having the right technology to fit the task is essential and the Surface Go is powerful and flexible enough to be the right product for the job. Update: I carry a USB-C slim powerbank in-lieu of the provided power adapter in my EDC backpack and appreciate having extra on-the-go emergency recharging power if I need it for one or more personal devices (Surface Go, Mobile Phone, Bluetooth headphones, etc.) Thanks Microsoft

I travel extensively for my job and grow weary of carrying my Dell Inspiron 13 around, as ounces equal pounds and pounds equal pain. I primarily use my computer for browsing, video playback and light MS Office duties, and considered an iPad Mini 4 as it would do most of what I needed for a very light weight with standardized accessories with my iPhone. When I saw the Surface Go announced, I decided to give it a try and after a week of criss-crossing the country have been pleased with the decision as a new Surface user. The Go's form factor is very similar to a Gen1 iPad, very small and light. Spending an extra $100 for the (necessary) Type Cover feels like a ripoff and adds substantially to total cost, but with it the machine was sufficiently speedy for my on-the-go work emails and browsing, including multiple Chrome tabs open with Youtube videos. I wish the battery lasted longer, but it is sufficient for most tasks. Now for the picked nits: I wish the device had a USB-A port. I also wish it had a full-size SD card port, though MicroSD is just fine for most folks and I appreciate the extra memory capability. I will either need to replace multiple SD cards with MicroSDs or purchase a USB-C SD card adapter which is another peripheral to lose...but I knew that prior to purchasing the Go. On the whole, I have enjoyed the machine as it is less than half the weight of my Dell and does everything I do with a laptop on the road, with the ability to still use full Office. I have owned multiple netbooks and the Surface exceeds all of them as a laptop in terms of size, weight, usability and performance. The BIGGEST issue I see with this device is there is no method that I can discern for Amazon Video purchases to be downloaded to a Surface Go and played back while on an airplane. This makes the Go more or less useless as a media consumption device in any circumstance where wifi is not available, and is a GLARING omission by Microsoft. Yes, I could have purchased movies via iTunes or the Microsoft Store or download via Netflix, but this limits flexibility which makes the Go much less useful as a hybrid and more of an expensive yet performance-compromised small laptop. For this reason alone I have considered returning my Surface Go and replacing it with an iPad Mini 4 as I originally thought, as the iPad is more suited for media consumption but poor (in my experience/opinion) for work and email. For this reason I may keep the Go, but I'm disappointed that Amazon and Microsoft have not come up with a solution.

After reading many tech reviews of this product, I was initially hesitant to purchase this product because of its apparently low performance "Pentium Gold" processor and its eMMC storage. I could not justify paying for a Surface Pro 6 as I needed something lighter and do not need an i5 to watch videos and run Remote Desktop (this buy is intended to be my secondary computer). Therefore, I felt compelled to take a chance on this one. Built: Very well built with rounded edges on the back that make it easy to carry and use in tablet mode. The bezels are a little thick, but that makes it well suited to be used in the tablet mode. The screen has a very good resolution for this price point, the inclusion of a USB-C makes it very easy to connect to an external monitor if needed (I don't have the expensive Surface Dock, I just use and HDMI to USB-C converter), or sometimes even as a charging port. Software: For the first couple of days until my Type Keyboard arrived, I experimented in the tablet mode while still in the 'S' Mode. It worked quite well, the touch is very responsive and the on-screen keyboard is not bad. Turned out I wasn't a big fan of the 'S' mode - I needed Cisco Anyconnect to use Remote Desktop, and therefore ended up switching to Windows 10 Home which is free and extremely easy. I downloaded Chrome, and this was not at all optimized for touch. The virtual keyboard does not even show up to let you type - in fact, I realized that apps not from the Microsoft Store don't work well in the tablet mode. However, this wasn't at all a problem for me, as my Type Keyboard arrived soon and then I did not really use the touch mode very often after. Performance-wise, there was no difference for me in the S Mode or normal Windows. When attached to the Type Keyboard, this device is an absolute joy. The keyboard is surprisingly spacious for its size. The trackpad is great. All the third party apps work just as well as they would on any computer. I sometimes have 20 tabs opened in each Edge and Chrome, but haven't noticed any lag. Bottomline: The tech reviewers on Youtube really think about photo/video editing and gaming when they review such devices, forgetting that most people just use gadgets for ordinary Microsoft Office or multimedia browsing. This device is great, if that is one's need. If i ever need more real estate or processing power, my i7 MacBook Pro is what I would use. Yet, the other 90% of the time, I will be using my Surface Go.

So I took a chance on the base model and to be honest I wasn't expecting much being that all the tech blogs reviewed the 128 SSD/8GB version and pretty much said to disregard the base model due to it having only 4GB of RAM and slower eMMC storage. However after using it for a couple of days I must say I'm very impressed with how responsive and capable the base model is. The eMMC storage may not be as fast as the SSD but that doesn't mean the end result is a poor user experience. I've left Windows 10 in S mode so far and don't see a need to switch it off. Now if you plan to do more with the machine like using Chrome and installing applications that aren't in the windows store then you may want to purchase the 8GB model, but other than that the 4GB machine is pretty capable and something to be considered. Windows Hello is quick and easy to setup and works flawlessly. Powering the machine up and logging into windows doesn't take long at all. We are talking a couple seconds here. 64 GB doesn't sound like much these days but after installing a few apps from the store and an OS update I have 39.0 GB left. Plenty of storage for my needs and if I need more I can always add a micro SD card. The build quality is excellent and what you come to expect from a surface product. The display is crisp with sharp text and nice and bright. The 10 inch screen is the perfect size for using on the go and if needed one can use a dock or adapter to connect it to a larger screen. The type cover while shrunken down some has been a pleasure to type on. Didn't take me long to adjust and the track pad is a nice size as well to a point where I didn't feel like I needed to grab my bluetooth mouse while using it. Overall the 4GB RAM / 64 GB eMMC model is definitely worth a look and not a waste as these tech blogs say. Its easy to assume that it's not worthy without actually using it. Like I said, I was initially skeptical and expected to exchange it for the higher priced model but after using it I don't feel I need to at all. The higher priced model might even be overkill for some. When I need to do something that requires more power then I'll grab my 2013 macbook pro or use my alienware desktop but for on the go and/or portability I'm definitely leaving my macbook at home and taking the surface go. In closing I'm impressed. Great job microsoft.

I wasn't sure that I was going to like this at first. I am coming from an iPad Pro 10.5" with the Apple Smart Keyboard and was looking for something that offered a little more productivity than an iPad. Was also looking at the Tab S4 but after seeing the Surface Go recently released, I decided to go with that instead. This is a good product if you ask me, and while it doesn't come with the Typecover keyboard, I wouldn't recommend this product without it. I understand the reasoning for not including it was to cut costs for those that might already have a bluetooth keyboard and mouse at home, but again, I think the typecover is pretty necessary. The Surface Go, provided you know what its limits are is a very good sweet spot for blurring the lines between a tablet ad a pc. It functions very well for a product thats sort of in the middle. Is it as powerful and fast as an iPad pro? No. Is the battery life as good as an iPad? No. Are you going to able to play heavy games and run intense programs with this? No. But this doesn't really hurt the value of this machine to me. The battery while not as long lasting as an iPad at 10 hours, I feel like Microsofts claim of "up to 9 hours" might not be stretching it too far, I would say you can probably get around 6-7 hours off a full charge depending on how you use it. In my time using the Surface Go, I had around 5 Edge tabs open (including a Youtube video), as well as messing around with a couple of other apps and I didn't really feel like the Surface was struggling too much at all, and again this is on the base model Surface Go.

So I was pretty skeptical of the Surface Go (especially the 4GB version). I am not a lover of Windows 10, but I had been eyeing the full size Surface tablets for a while, However, the cost was always more than I wanted to spend on a 2nd computer. I'm a multi-OS user, and generally I use a $170 Chromebook for a secondary device. I love ChromeOS, but when my Chromebook screen went out (after 2 years of use), I started the search for a new device to carry with me when I travel and use on the couch. Due to the creep of Chromebook pricing (and the fact that BestBuy had a 4GB Surface Go as a discounted openbox item), I decided to give the Go.... well a go. Long story short, its a decent device; actually the best Windows Tablet I have owned.. Build quality is amazing, as is the screen and the type keyboard. I am using it with full Windows (the openbox model was already switched, so I never tried S mode). Performance is acceptable, verging on good at some things. I play Cuphead, and it seems to work great with Edge (minus some strange quirks here and there) . Occasionally, I do get some lag (such as when writing this review) between when I type and when it registers onscreen. It seems dependent on the website, but it is a bit disappointing in 2018. Battery life is okay, nothing magical, but okay. The biggest issue I have is the price. I believe that $299 would be a much more appropriate - ESPECIALLY since the keyboard is an extra $100+. Overall, I'm not 100% sure I will keep it, but I am pretty impressed. It seems like some stuff works really well, and I love the size. But when things go quirky, it makes me question spending $400+ on a second device.